| Can’t get a job! I need a Job experience! Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. ( Wow what a man, what a testimony, he wasn’t so much perfect as his worship and spirit was, his motivation, his attitude, his outlook, his purpose. In other words he was humble and sincere enough to recognize his faults and failures as a HUMAN and that he was merely man and not God ) :7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? ( Hum could it be that God was humiliating Satan? mocking him, sorta rubbing in his face one of Gods prize possessions, for Satan it was a rebuke and humble snubb but for Job; was it a test? a trial? a TESTIMONY? Just who was on show here? ) 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. ( Thats like some folks they always think ur just in it for the profit and not the prophet, just in it for what you can get out of it not give to it, just in it for the healing and blessing. At least that’s what they claim, but your not in it for that, are you? ) 12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. 13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain thy servants.. and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ( The SABEANS were suppose to be allies but notice they came and robbed him when the opportunity presented itself, ah but isn’t that like some of our family and friends? our so called allies) 16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ( Notice: It saids fire fell from Heaven? For all Job knew he had been attacked and cursed from God himself, that was the thinking back then when something terrible would come upon an individual. It was as if he had sinned and was being punished, but poor Job knew he had done no wrong, as far as was possible, yet he refuse to curse God despite the seeming injustice of God, there’s something to be learned here!) 17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain thy servants; and I only I am escaped alone to tell thee. ( my when it rains it pours, here the real enemy and instigator Satan thinks by robbing Job of his substance he can rob Job of his spirit of sacrifice, Satan thinks by killing his servants he can kill his faith, and by burning his home and possessions he thought he could burn Job of his hope and providence ) 18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters 19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ( from the wilderness in other words out of no where! ever felt like u been attacked for no reason? for no purpose? from places u never expected? ) 20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. ( Wow I told you this was some man of God. This character Job, It’s no wonder God couldn’t help but bless him and prosper him. I think Job knew something all along here that he didn’t have to learn from this story but we do? He had something right in his thinking, something right in his attitude, his spirit, his commitment, his faith! Hey after all maybe this story is not so much for Jobs learning as for ours? Something to think about ) Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. ( There’s something to be said about praying for those who persecute you and use you, but try this one on for size, there’s something to be said about praying for them. But even more important is what you pray for them, how you pray for them, with what spirit, what motive, what desire? Hum.... ) 11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one of gold. 12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: ( Told you God couldn’t help but bless him! Maybe we should try Jobs way, his experience, his praises, his worship, his devotion, his God! ) 16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. 17 So Job died, being old and full of days. THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS: Job my my this guy really went through it, but what he gained in the end! Wow not bad.. maybe God was using circumstances and situations to persuade and inspire Job? Could it be that he does the same with us? You know what, some of us really need a Job experience in our lives. And I believe God is aware of that hence perhaps that’s why he allows some things to happen to us. Some times we need a good shake down, a good trial, a good testing, some of us need some strong character which only comes from a strong struggle, sometimes we need a little more grace so he sends us the grumblers, sometimes we need more faith so he takes a little of our stuff away, sometimes we need hope and inspiration so he allows hurt and desperation to come our way! For Job all he needed was a helping hand and a good word, a warm hug and an encouraging thought. Some of us don’t like our Job experience so we go on in life empty, discouraged, directionless and at times hopeless. When we need talent and vision, persistence and purpose, and instead because we reject Job’s insights and experience we go on in life feeling unworthy and valueless, not really making any real or significant contribution to others or ourselves. Lets look at this Job guy one more time a lil closer. Notice: One of the first things said about him and by God at that: is he was a perfect man. yet the bible saids “ there are none righteous no not one for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” He was perfect? At lest in Gods eyes, and that’s saying a mouth full. Maybe he was perfected in his humanity when he found a prayerful place for a perfect God in his heart and home? What made him perfect was not his person but his purpose, not his presence but his praise, not his finances but his faith! Also notice in all the attacks against him, though they came from the least likely source both allies, friends, and enemies and seemingly even from God? Yet he remained loyal and steadfast. He didn’t try to find others to blame. He didn’t get the wrong attitude or spirit, didn’t speak critical, yes some say that the reason they feel doubtful and negative, depressed and discouraged, hopeless and beat up is cause of the trials and experiences they are going through? Could it be that the reason they are going through such troubles, trials and difficulties, circumstances and situations are as a result of what they do, speak, feel AND ACT ON. Sometimes we actually speak our troubles into existence and dare I say sickness and disease simply because we lay claim to them? Perhaps what we speak, feel, think and act like, brings to bear certain events and situations, troubles and trials in our life not vice versa? Thus we find ourselves having a Job experience! Hey u need a Job? got any Job experience? So just why are you having that Job experience? Prayer: Father God, Lord, Daddy! you are amazing! you are so great! so wonderful! your name is worthy of all praise! I love and adore you, I worship you, I pray that people would also worship you, recognize you and your authority, be thankful unto you! Please help us dad, help us to see a God who is greater than our problems, greater than our obstacles, help me to see Jesus divinity over my frail humanity, forgive us this day for doubting, for complaining, for whispering evil of others, for thinking wrong of others, for not offering compassion and hope instead of condemnation and accusations, Oh Lord I pray for the Jobs today who are struggling, who are hurting, who need encouragement, a helping hand and warm hug and not a cold heart, and pointed finger, Thank you daddy for loving us, for blessing us! For teaching us, for allowing us to be tried, to be tested, to be testified on and over! Wow ur one amazing God! asapas kioneasa shama lambak qinoi soy thannatoasta elohapa Amen Prepared by Rev. George R. Nava 209-465-9731 web page- http://www.oocities.org/some1caresforu.html |